I've never followed the NFL, and I must confess, I've been one of those Superbowl fans who only watches for the commercials. But this year, it's different. I just started playing Fantasy Football, and now I am obsessed with the playoffs. But I want to cheer for the good guys - and I need your help!
I've been choosing my players based on what they do to make a difference in their communities -- not by how well they perform ON the field, but by what they do OFF the field. That's right. It's an iVolunteer playoff for me. I've done alright the first two rounds, and I've still got four great players on my fantasy team, but now this newbie needs help - from all of you who have been dedicated, in-the-know Packers, Bears, Steelers, and Jets fans. Tell me what you know about how your players are making a difference in their communities.
Now I know that for a lot of you die-hard fans, this is no way to win fantasy football. You're right. I'm not leading my fantasy league and probably won't win the two Superbowl tickets. But that's not the point. I stand by my Good Guy team. (I'll share my full roster/score after the Superbowl.)
So who do I add to my team this weekend? These are the 4 spots I need to fill on my Good Guy Roster this week:
Running Back: I have Brandon Jackson (Green Bay Packers), who's community service with Mississippi Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Red Cross and at Wisconsin schools is pretty impressive. But I have to say, finding Running Backs who give back has been difficult.
Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) is still on my team. Along with his wife Nicole, Greg is an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. My previous picks were Marques Colston (his Colston Charities is a beautiful mentorship program for abused and neglected children) and Anquan Boldin (his Q81 Foundation has a new I Help Build initiative and is active in helping public and charter schools). But I need a second Wide Receiver now.
Tight End. Atlanta Falcon's Tony Gonzalez was my guy here. His Shadow Buddies Foundation is seriously cool and is making a big difference in Kansas City and California. But now I need a new charitable Tight End. Any ideas?
Defense: I choose my defense based on the Head Coach that gives back the most. I had been banking on Pete Carroll. His dedication to keeping kids safe is remarkable. Now I need a new coach. Any word on what these guys do for good? Steelers' Mike Tomlin, Packers' Mike McCarthy, Jets' Rex Ryan or Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith.
A few guidelines: I don't count participation in charity golf tournies, special event appearances, endorsements - stuff like that. We all know, that for these guys, that's all part of the job. And participating in the NFL league's impressive Hometown Huddle -- a league-wide day of service that provides NFL players from all 32 teams the opportunity to take part in a variety of community service activities, such as building homes for low-income families, visiting local military bases, or painting classrooms -- is very cool, but it's not enough. I want to know who is really taking their time off the field to make a difference in their communities and how.
I need your help before Sunday's games! Knowing the method to my madness, which NFL Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End and Coach should I put on my Good Guy Fantasy team this weekend? Who's making the most difference off the field? Posting your advice/comments below.
Follow Stacy Twilley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/iVolunteer
Rabbi Joshua Hess: NFL Playoffs: Let the Showboating Begin!
Kolby Solinsky: Welcome Back, Fantasy Football
Larry Leach: The NHL Could Learn From European Football
Tony Richardson, Jets fullback, has a long and touching relationship with a teen he met through Make-A-Wish and his Rich in Spirit Foundation which he founded in 1999 has been recognized by the NFL
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/11/jets_fullback_tony_richardson.html
Jets receiver Jericho Cotchery established a foundation to benefit under-privileged youth
http://www.cotcheryfoundation.com/about.php
Offensive lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson's foundation rewards academic scholarship
http://www.dbrickashawfergusonfoundation.org/?page_id=17
Since both only joined the Jets this year, I don't know how involved they have become in their community but each has been an outstanding role model
While Ben's off-field antics are a sore subject, he also is heavily involved in charity work to provide k-9 dogs to police departments. You don't hear about it, but in 2010, Ben's foundation awarded grants to police and fire departments in and around the cities of the Steelers away-games: Nashville, TN; Tampa Bay, FL; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Cincinnati, OH; Buffalo, NY; Baltimore, MD; Cleveland, OH. A grant will also be distributed to a public safety department in Pittsburgh, PA in early 2011. On September 16th, the Hendersonville, Tennessee police department received the first grant of 2010 from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. The department is seeking financial assistance to purchase a canine trained for the dual-purpose of narcotics and patrol duties. “On September 24th, the Kody Snodgrass Memorial Foundation received a grant to assist them in their continuing efforts to train bloodhounds for law enforcement jobs, specifically to assist with child abductions.
Charlie Batch - www.batchfoundation.org. Charlie is constantly involved in Pittsburgh youth work.
Ike Taylor - www.facemeike.com
Lawrence Timmons - www.timmons94.com
Hines Ward - www.mvp86.com
LaMarr Woodley - www.lamarrwoodley56.com
In addition, McCarthy has served as honorary chairperson for the local Cerebral Palsy Telethon and worked with the American Heart Association on its Red Cap campaign to recognize heart disease and stroke survivors and to raise awareness of those conditions.
On an annual basis, he visits cancer patients at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, participates in the Lombardi Award of Excellence Dinner Ball, which supports the Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds in the fight against cancer, and serves as host of the Green & Gold Gala, a fundraiser for Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin.
In 2009, McCarthy partnered with the Packers to make donations of $100,000 each to the Autism Society of Northeast Wisconsin, Baker University’s football program and a group of organizations (St. Rosalia Academy, the Greenfield Baseball Association and the Greenfield Organization) in his native Greenfield Neighborhood of Pittsburgh. McCarthy and the Packers teamed up to make $100,000 donations to the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay, Baker’s football program and the same group of organizations in the Greenfield Neighborhood in 2008.
Among several other events, McCarthy has participated in Jerry Parins’ Cure for Cancer Motorcycle Ride, the team’s regular Make-A-Wish Foundation practice and game visits, and various local Get Motivated seminars.
McCarthy also was honored with the Distinguished Service award at the Lee Remmel Sports Awards Banquet in April 2008, and then in the fall as the 2008 Person of the Year from his native Greenfield Neighborhood.
Community involvement: His humble beginnings influenced him to become actively involved in community events during his time in Green Bay... This past year, helped build new and refurbish old playground equipment at local Nicolet Elementary School as part of local United Way’s NFL Hometown Huddle project and rang the Salvation Army bell and signed autographs as Green Bay receivers competed with the Minnesota defensive line for holiday donations... His Love Jones 4 Kids Foundation focuses on the needs of children in the communities of Green Bay and San Jose, Calif., and also supports the efforts of the Milwaukee Rescue Mission... Hosts an annual ‘Never Think About Failure’ football camp in San Jose and a ‘Toast To Success’ dinner in De Pere, Wis., to raise money for his foundation and for underprivileged youth... Received the ‘Nice Guy Award’ in 2008 at the annual Doug Jirschele Sports Awards Banquet in Clintonville, Wis. ... Spoke to students at Fort Howard Elementary School on standing up to peer pressure... In his first season, assisted with a skills camp for kids at the Boys and Girls Club, helped to refurbish the Green Bay West H.S. football field as part of the Home Depot Neighborhood MVP Program, and helped with improvements at Golden House, a local domestic abuse shelter, as part of Hometown Huddle... Has participated in events to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Donald Driver Foundation...
• Overcoming countless obstacles growing up has inspired him to become one of the team’s most involved players in giving back to the community. In 2000, he and his wife created the Donald Driver Foundation (www.donalddriverfoundation.com), which offers assistance to homeless mothers and underprivileged children as well as scholarships to high school students in three states. In addition, has made more than 500 appearances since 1999, from schools to youth football fields to churches, delivering motivational speeches or offering assistance.
Five full-time employees and two part-time employees spend every working day organizing charitable involvement that comes about through the commitment of the players, coaches and staff. The Green Bay Packers community outreach program takes many forms. The Packers sponsor special fundraising events, make donations of cash and memorabilia to many charitable organizations, make personal appearances and serve on various community boards and commissions. While it’s impossible to list every donation or event, the Green Bay Packers Community Outreach Report provides an overview of the organization’s many contributions. The various contributions described in this report resulted in a comprehensive Packers charity impact of approximately $4 million in the past year.
See, 5 full time and two part time employees just working on charity. Does any other NFL team do that much? Plus, as a publicly owned team, their books are open. You can get the report if you want it.